Collioure, Banyuls, Argeles or Canet Plage

[MangosteenSoda]

Looking at this area for either an Easter or summer break. Definitely want to be near the sea and in walking distance of amenities and will probably go down the AirBnB route.

There seem to be lots of options that meet my requirements in Canet, but a quick Google of comments/reviews has put me off a bit. Collioure looks gorgeous but more expensive and fewer accommodation options.

Not really sure about Banyuls and Argeles.

Any experts out there?

We’ve been to Argeles. We didn’t love it but didn’t hate it. It is a very popular resort with dozens of caravan parks and campsites where the majority of people stay. It's also rather spread out. The town centre itself has some interesting narrow streets to explore. On the coast, apart from the massive beach there’s a pleasant harbour lined with restaurants and a lovely big wide promenade lined with trees. You can stroll along the seafront to Le Racou.

Collioure is lovely, been a few times, but it can be quiet in the off season (also the weather is not guaranteed sunshine, if that's important to you). I haven't been at Easter but have been in September and a lot of things are closing or closed, so worth checking that out before you book. We always end up bringing home some art!

Banyuls is fabulous, we went on holiday there every year for ten years. Wonderful beaches, good shops all on foot. Port Vendres is also lovely, but a bit further to the good beaches. Haven't been for a few years, but there used to be a bus for 1€ to Perpignan or the Spanish border. There is also a train. Collioure is very crowded (though worth a visit by bus or train), Argelès is much windier in our experience.

We stayed in Canet twice a few years ago (same house both times), around May half-term, & liked it a lot. We were about a 10-minute walk to the beach. At the time the kids were mid-teens to mid-20s and they loved it.
We had excursions to Collioure, Port-Vendres, Perpignan, the Cathar castles, Andorra (that was a bit far tbh!), the safari park at Sigean etc
What are the reviews saying?

Thanks for the insight. Nowhere is really jumping out and wowing me (well, at least nowhere in keeping with my budget).

@GiantKitten Someone compared Canet to Blackpool. Nothing wrong with Blackpool, but I don’t really want to go to Blackpool in France.

@FreiasBathtub presumably the weather is the same all along that coast? Or is Collioure in a bit of a rain shadow? I don’t need hot, hot weather, but brighter and drier than where I am in the UK is always appreciated (not guaranteed, I know). I love the sound of the art shops.

It’s nothing like Blackpool! Baffled by that comparison! I suspect whoever said that has never been to Blackpool 🤣 Granted it’s over 10 years since we went but I can’t imagine it could have changed completely in that time.

It’s a nice seaside town. There are bucket & spade shops, but where aren’t there? There’s also a beautiful marina, and the beach is great. It’s not upmarket, but it’s a really pleasant place to stay & not madly expensive.

Pics attached of part of our walk to the sea, the marina, and the market place (near the beach)

Yes it's probably similar along the whole coast, I've only been to Collioure, but each time there's been at least one rainy day and often cloudy. It's a pebble beach too, if that matters to you?

Not that I'm trying to put you off, I've had some lovely holidays there!

Peyriac is lovely, but a little village, so not lots there.

Gruissan is nice and more holiday resort, massive beach. Or Narbonne plage.

i was looking at Collioure too and some nice properties on Vrbo.

This area is gorgeous. Head up into the Corbieres too for stunning scenery and cheap wine 😊

Thank you everyone. I think I’m going to rule out Argeles and take a closer look at Banyuls before making a final decision.

Have a look around the Plage des Elmes if you can. There are a few shops there but you have to walk into the town for supermarkets. The sheltered cove is perfect and protects you from the wind.

Like this.

Of those 4, Collioure.

We stayed in an inland village, Saint Genis Des Fontaines. Laroque des Alberes also lovely. We wanted to be near to Collioure but have some space and a pool. We visited Collioure a few times which is gorgeous. Didn’t like Argeles, bit tacky for us. We also drove over the border into Spain.

We also drove to some markets in inland small towns.

Saint Genis, we were walking distance to the village that had bakery, small supermarkets, pharmacy, a couple of restaurants, ice cream shops and a bar in a gorgeous square. Short drive to a larger supermarket. Off the tourist trail which was a definite benefit.

It was an amazing holiday and we loved Saint Genis. I think a spacious villa with pool was not much more than an apartment in Collioure. We were there in August and the weather was hot.

Thanks! Lots of new ideas for me to think about. I’m obsessed with having a sea view and my DC loves the beach, so generally go coastal, but happy to drive and explore lots of inland places too.

I’m teetering on Narbonne Plage or Gruissan (thank you pp) if I go in summer or sticking with original idea of Collioure or Banyuls for Easter. Weirdly the first two feel more summer holidayish and the second two seem more hump seasonish. Overthinking